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Ski and snowboarding

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'quiet' ski resort for Feb half term

12 replies

mixedmessage · 15/04/2018 12:09

For the last few years we've been spoilt going to a lovely small resort in the southern Alps during term time. Next year change of schools means we'll be limited to half term so I'm looking elsewhere/quieter. I don't mind queuing but tend to freeze when the slopes get too busy around me so think France is sadly out! We'd be looking for s/c, not too bothered about bars and restaurants and good ski school for both me and the kids. With lots of cruisy blues for me and a few more challenging reds/blacks for DH and the DCs.And as if that's not hard enough, budget is also key, usually book everything independently. Any recommendations please?

OP posts:
dontcallmethatyoucunt · 15/04/2018 20:48

I think there's a previous thread on here with several suggestions.

mixedmessage · 17/04/2018 22:18

Thanks, Search wasn't working for me when I posted, will give it another try...

OP posts:
CanYouHearThePeopleSing · 17/04/2018 22:25

We went to Kitzbuhel in half term this year. Ticks all your boxes I'd say. We loved it and will go back. Can fly to Salzburg, Innsbruck or Munich, so lots of options. Lift pass wasn't cheap, but flights/accom were. Ski school was excellent.
Friends went to Sauze d'Oulx at half term - it wasn't too busy and prices are favourable. It's not so good for beginners there though- loads of lovely reds (which would be blue in France).

rabbitsandrhubarb · 17/04/2018 22:31

Avoid France. Try the Dolomites on the Italian/Austrian border - lots of cruisy blues, very scenic. Very good value food and drink.

Alternatively, resorts in the Ski Amade area of Austria - easy flights to Salzburg, quick transfers to resort and again lots of flattering runs, tends to be much cheaper than France for food, drinks and much nicer accommodation. Lift pass not cheap, but covers the whole area and lifts are much more modern that in most French resorts - heated seats and covers on chair lifts. You can ski from one resort to another easily depending on where you choose to base yourself, so you get the feeling of 'going' somewhere.

mixedmessage · 18/04/2018 19:29

Thanks for those suggestions, will investigate then thoroughly. Particularly like the idea of heated seats after enduring skiing in the lashing rain this year!!

OP posts:
wobytide · 18/04/2018 20:01

Andorra, generally cheaper and smaller resorts but schools are generally excellent. Passes normally cover more areas and can move between resorts relatively easy. Flights to Barcelona/Girona/Lleida/Toulouse so more choice

mixedmessage · 19/04/2018 13:57

Can you point me in the right direction for accommodation in Kitzbuhel please CanYouHear? I'm struggling to find much that isn't megabucks!

OP posts:
CanYouHearThePeopleSing · 19/04/2018 14:40

We just booked on Owners Direct. My friend did it, so I'm a bit vague about the details - I just gave her money when she asked. But I remember it wasn't an eye watering amount of money. There were 10 of us so we had a decent sized house. We stayed slightly out of town (30 mins walk - not that I ever did!) and got the ski bus in each day - I thought it would be a total PITA but it wasn't (we hired lockers at the bottom of the main lift).

We said if we went again that we'd have a good look at the train links. The station is right next door to the lift, and we thought there were bound to be towns/places to stay just a couple of stops down the train line that were bound to be cheaper. If you go on google maps you can follow the line along to see where it goes! (timetables were easily available online I seem to recall).

Sorry - that's all a bit vague. I'm sure there was loads on Owners Direct though - maybe AirBnB too. Just check proximity to a bus stop. We were actually glad to be a couple of stops further out, as we got a seat on the bus every morning!

CanYouHearThePeopleSing · 19/04/2018 14:41

PS - lots of the lifts had heated seats there too... The lift system was one of the best/most efficient I've seen.

MountainGoat111 · 04/09/2018 17:26

We went to Italy last Feb (again this year), Merano and was perfect not too busy, the resort is not too big but a reasonable amount of blue, red and blacks .
We are beginners ish so the place was perfect for us.
The Dolomites are good too.

turkeyboots · 26/09/2018 19:13

We went to Cervinan in Italy last half term. Was fairly quiet, certainly more so than France at Christmas was.

Buttercupsandaisies · 27/09/2018 21:06

We go Andorra at half term and there's hardly any queues. The big ski area Grandvilara comments several resorts on one pass so excellent coverage. The World Cup is there in March 2019

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